An Exploratory Case Study on the Policies in the Repatriation of Filipino Third Culture Youth (TCY) and its Bearing on Their Reintegration in Philippine Society

Abstract

The popularity and increase of migrant foreign workers have contributed to the rise of Filipino Third Culture Youths who were raised and adapted to foreign cultures but have repatriated to the Philippines and have faced issues and difficulties with the repatriation and reintegration process. This thesis explores the experiences of Filipino Third Culture Youths and assesses whether current existing policies are aiding in their reintegration into the Philippines. Previous studies have primarily focused on the experiences of TCKs, and Filipino-oriented studies have primarily focused on youth or migrant motivations for migration over the impact of current laws on a Filipino TCY’s reintegration experience. As a subject with limited focus, we have approached it as an exploratory case study to better understand the phenomenon. We held Focused Group Discussions to investigate how these policies impact the repatriation experience of TCYs. This exploration has found that current Filipino laws are lacking when it comes to the repatriation and reintegration process of TCYs. Current policies are focused on the welfare of migrant workers and their families, though TCYs are unaware of and unable to avail themselves of these benefits. Furthermore, TCYs have identified ‘administrative and bureaucratic processes, education, welfare and healthcare policies regarding TCYs’ as four areas in need of attention to improve their reintegration process. We conclude that the current policies are lacking when it comes to resolving issues faced by TCY during their repatriation and that most existing policies are aimed at providing monetary support and educational and training benefits to returning migrant workers and their families but ultimately ended up excluding TCYs from having access to such benefits. It is significant because it opens up research on how much more existing policies could be further amended and the key topics Filipino TCYs find to be the most relevant to them.